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The Loxton News, Wednesday, September 17, 2014 – 9
Audit | Tax | Advisory | Financial Advice
At Crowe Horwath we see you from a different angle
You’re our point of focus. We listen to you to understand your needs – establishing a relationship
you can count on.
We focus on providing practical accounting, business and financial advice to deliver the right
outcome for you.
Find out more at www.crowehorwath.com.au/opportunities
9 Riverview Drv, BERRI T: 08 8582 1955
35 Bookpurnong Tce, LOXTON T: 08 8584 5160
www.crowehorwath.com.au
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Authorised Representative of Charter Financial Planning Limited
ABN 35 002 976 294
AFSL Licence No 234665
9 Kokoda Terrace
Loxton 5333
8584 3215
Fax 8584 5414
Mobile 0418 839 144
Email tony.swog@bigpond.com
www.lffs.net.au
Tony Altschwager
Your local risk insurance professional
Providing advice on:
Income Protection
Term Life Insurance
Total & Permanent Disablement Insurance
Trauma Insurance
Mortgage & Partnership Protection
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ADVERTISEMENT
Lowdown on ESL
Last month, South Australians began
receiving their annual payment notices for the
Emergency Services Levy (ESL).
Real Estate Institute of SA chief executive officer Greg
Troughton said property owners will have noticed a
significant increase in the levy.
He described the ride as “just another way” of taxing
property owners.
“REISA understands that the State Government must
replenish its coffers but to constantly use property as the
source of that income is discriminatory and does nothing
but throw a spanner into the natural cycle of home
ownership, “ he said.
“Property ownership should be fluid and dynamic not
constantly impeded by the exorbitant leverage of taxation.
We already have the most crippling land tax regime in the
country and this massive increase in the ESL just adds one
more additional burden to property owners.
“Why would you ever invest in a property if you just
keep getting slugged with property tax after property tax?”
Mr Troughten said he is concerned that the rise in the
ESL will impact most upon the people who cannot afford
it, in particular those who are currently renting or plan to
rent.
“Feedback given to REISA already indicates that landlords
will be definitely upping the rent to recoup this additional
expense,” he said. While the increase in the ESL may seem
to be small in terms of a yearly rent increase, it will most
certainly start landlords thinking about rent reviews when
perhaps they otherwise would not.
“Renters are often on low incomes and cannot afford to
buy their own homes. Any increase in rent – particularly
to offset an additional Government tax – can only set these
individuals back further. ”
The rise in the ESL will also impact older homeowners,
according to Mr Troughten.
“Older homeowners have seen their homes rise in value
this year – which is undeniably a good thing - but often
older homeowners are cash poor. This extra cost just eats
into their budget,” he added.
The Australian Tax Office
(ATO) is urging people
to consider lodging a
‘voiceprint’.
The ATO receives around 8
million calls per year and for
about 75 per cent of these calls
people need to verify their
identity.
Australians contacting the
ATO by phone will now be given
the choice to record a short
‘voiceprint’ that can be used to
verify their identity for future
calls.
A voiceprint is a digital
representation of the sound,
rhythm, physical characteristics
and patterns in a voice.
“Over 30,000 Australians have
already chosen to use our voice
verification technology. It is a
more efficient and secure service
to the community,” said second
commissioner Geoff Leeper.
“For people who call us
regularly, voice verification will
speed up the authentication
process and cut the time they
need to spend on the phone to
the ATO.”
The added layer of voice
authentication security will help
to deter, prevent and detect
identity theft.
Further information on the
ATO’s voice authentication
technology can be found at the
website (ato.gov.au).
Tax office launches voice authentication
Green light for
museum site
by Stephanie Gropler
Locals are encouraged to
head along to the launch
of the Loxton Museum of
Agricultural Technology site
next Wednesday for what
has been described as a “big
step forward”.
Loxton Old Machinery Group
secretary Peter Magarey said the
museum, which will be located
at Kaesler’s Landing, would be
“vital” in preserving the region’s
history.
“The Loxton Historical Village
basically collects material until
1950. However, from 1950 until
now, there has been very little col-
lection of machinery, agriculture
and the history of our region in
that time,” he said.
“That is about 50 years of infor-
mation, materials and items are
being lost to scrap merchants,
plus aging and deterioration and
they then get disposed of.
“If we are silent and do nothing,
this information will pass away...
A lot of it is lost already.”
However, Mr Magarey said “it
was not too late” to preserve local
agricultural history.
“The Museum of Agricultural
Technology is being launched to
preserve, restore and present the
machinery of the region, both
horticulture and agriculture,” he
said.
“We are aiming to present
themes, showing the development
of various items of equipment,
machinery and technology from
inception, through to present.
“We hope it will be both illustra-
tive of the progression of technol-
ogy, but also educative for school
groups and others as well.”
Mr Magarey said a number of
items had already been earmarked
for the museum and displays
would be prepared gradually over
time.
“Some items have been brought
to the site. Most are still sitting
on the property owners or donor’s
sheds or in their paddocks,” he
said.
Mr Magarey said he was hoping
the museum would also have a
strong focus on the railway.
“We are looking to have some
form of railway display there as
well to protect what we see as
very significant and crucial role
the railway had,” he said.
“If it weren’t for the railway, we
wouldn’t have the Mallee.”
Mr Magarey said the muse-
um’s beginning had been “very
blessed”.
“Most people scratch around
for decades trying to get going,
whereas we have been launched
into it by this wonderful generos-
ity,” he said.
The Loxton Old Machinery
Group received an anonymous
donation of $25,000, while the
land has been leased at a mini-
mum cost.
“If it weren’t for the finances
we have and if it weren’t for the
kindred spirit we have met in so
many farmers around the place,
we wouldn’t have had the offers
of equipment that have been made
already,” he said.
“It has been very good and very
encouraging to have that response
from the community to date and
we look forward to more as we
go.”
The launch of the Loxton
Museum
of Agricultural
Technology site, along with the
unveiling of signage, will take
place at 1216 Bookpurnong Road,
Loxton, on September 24, from
11am.
For more information, see the
advertisement on page 14.
Loxton to Bookpurnong Local Action Planning officer Craig Ferber (left), local plant expert Doris Phelps and
Loxton West Stormwater Dam arboretum project co-ordinator David Kimber with some of the trees planted
around the area.
–
Emma Walter photo
A tree-mendous local effort
Locals have joined forces
to create an arboretum – ‘tree
collection’ – at the Loxton
West Stormwater Dam, near
the town riverfront.
A range of native species have
been planted around the southern
boundary of the basin.
The idea was raised by Loxton
to Bookpurnong Local Action
Planning officer Craig Ferber
and was taken up by the Loxton
Recreation Grounds Committee.
Mr Ferber sourced a grant from
the SA Murray-Darling Basin
Natural Resources Management
Board for the signage, while
Loxton Waikerie Council had
allocated money for plant reha-
bilitation when the dam was con-
structed.
“Local experts Paul McInnes,
Doris Phelps and Ian McInnes sug-
gested a range of plants from a list
of local species, the Loxton Men’s
Shed fixed the signs to stakes and
year 9 students from Loxton High
School helped spread protective
mulch,” said project co-ordinator
David Kimber.
“Loxton Waikerie Council parks
and gardens development manager
John Sylvia and I co-operated to
make it all happen.”
“It is an excellent example of
community co-operation.”
Mr Kimber said the plants were
“thriving” after a difficult start,
having been planted in 40 degree
heat.
He said the arboretum is a “wel-
come addition” to the walking and
nature trial and urged community
members to ‘take a stroll’.
“The public is encouraged to
monitor plant growth over the
months ahead,” he added.
Riverland route for state tour cyclists
The Riverland will
host this year’s Bicycle
SA tour riders over
the coming week.
The 2014 event will see
over 200 riders and 50
volunteers journey from
Adelaide to Renmark,
stopping at Mannum,
Swan Reach, Morgan,
Waikerie, Kingston-on-
Murray and Berri.
“It’s a great opportu-
nity to promote our towns
and region, as most of
the riders are from inter-
state,” said Bicycle SA
cycling supporter Karen
Richardson.
“I encourage everyone
to support the event by
parking a bike outside
their house or business
with a balloon attached or
a friendly sign as a ‘wel-
come’ to the town.”
The tour will run from
September 20-28.